Syfy's Helix - from BSG's Ronald D. Moore

[Sawyer]

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/ron-moore-thriller-helix-nears-series-order-at-syfy/

Ron Moore Thriller ‘Helix’ Nears Series Order At Syfy
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: Battlestar Galactica developer/executive producer Ron Moore is returning to Syfy’s primetime. I hear the cable network is finalizing deals for a 13-episode straight-to-series order to Helix, a dark thriller from Moore. Syfy had been exploring straight-to-series orders in lieu of traditional pilots, and Helix would be part of that strategy.

Helix, from Sony Pictures TV where Moore is under an overall deal, is about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak at an Arctic research facility who find themselves trying to protect the world from annihilation. The project, which eyes a debut later this year, was written on spec by Cameron Porsandeh who serves as co-executive producer. Moore and Lynda Obst (Hot In Cleveland) executive produce. In addition to hit Battlestar Galactica, Moore also co-created and executive produced Syfy’s prequel series, Caprica.

Moar RDM.

 

[Soapy]

Seems interesting. I'll probably check it out.

 

[Sawyer]

http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/ron...der-at-syfy-steven-maeda-tapped-as-showruner/

Ron Moore Thriller ‘Helix’ Gets Series Order At Syfy, Steven Maeda Tapped As Showruner
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: Syfy has finalized a 13-episode straight-to-series order to Helix, a dark thriller from Ronald D. Moore, marking Battlestar Galactica developer/executive producer’s return to the network. Steven Maeda (Lost, CSI: Miami) has come on board as showrunner of the project, written by Cameron Porsandeh.

Helix, from Sony Pictures TV, where Moore is under an overall deal, is about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak at an Arctic research facility who find themselves trying to protect the world from annihilation. Moore, Lynda Obst (Hot In Cleveland) and Maeda executive produce, with Porsandeh serving as co-executive producer. “With its well-drawn characters, taut drama, and incredible production team, we couldn’t be more excited to see this intense thrill-ride of a series come to life,” said Syfy’s president of original content Mark Stern. Helix is expected to begin production early in 2013 to debut later this year.

I wish Syfy would get a move on with the rest of their stuff. They put a ****load of stuff into development last year, and aside from one project, they haven't said a word since then.

I want some Booster Gold and Eyes of the Dragon, dammit!

 

[Hunter Rider]

Sounds kind of like a TV series of The Thing.

 

[Wyrminarrd]

It's hard to see how this premise can last beyond one season, seems like it would work better as a mini series.

Still, I will give it a chance.

 

[Sawyer]

Teaser Promo:
[YT]NiOXG8dVib4[/YT]

Hopefully we get some casting soon.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Snowy research facility, ambiguous end to the teaser? I approve. t:

 

[Sawyer]

http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/david-slade-to-direct-syfy-drama-helix/

David Slade To Direct Syfy Drama ‘Helix’
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: Feature and TV director David Slade (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) is set to direct the opening episode of Helix, Syfy‘s upcoming series from from Battlestar Galactica developer/executive producer Ronald D. Moore. The project, written by Cameron Porsandeh and produced by Sony TV, is a dark thriller about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak. Moore, showrunner Steven Maeda and Lynda Obst executive produce and Porsandeh co-exec produces the series, with Slade set to executive produce the premiere episode. Production is slated to begin this summer in Montreal. In TV, Slade most recently directed the opening episode on another straight-to-series genre drama, Hannibal. He served as executive producer and directed multiple episodes of the NBC series. WME-repped Slade previously directed the pilot for NBC’s Awake and an episode of AMC’s Breaking Bad.

**** me, this is wonderful.

 

[Sawyer]

SDCC: Syfy Goes Big For Helix

 

[Sawyer]

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/comic-con-syfys-helix-names-the-killings-billy-campbell-as-lead/

Comic-Con: Syfy’s ‘Helix’ Names ‘The Killing’s’ Billy Campbell As Lead
By DOMINIC PATTEN

EXCLUSIVE: He’s played a local politician on two seasons of AMC’s The Killing and Honest Abe himself in Nat Geo’s Killing Lincoln and now Billy Campbell is set to portray the emotionally troubled CDC pathologist lead in Syfy’s upcomng Helix. Two days before Helix’s Comic-Con panel, I’ve learned that the actor will play the character of Dr. Alan Farragut in the dark thriller series about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak. Farragut is just getting over a failed marriage and the affair his wife had with his brother, a sibling who now needs his help after becoming infected with a deadly disease. Campbell, who also stars in the Ron Maxwell-directed Civil War feature Copperheads, is set to start filming on the 13-episode series in Montreal on July 29th. Due to debut next January, Helix is executive produced by Battlestar Galactica developer/executive producer Ronald D. Moore, showrunner Steven Maeda and Lynda Obst. Writer Cameron Porsandeh co-exec produces the series, with Twilight Saga: Eclipse director David Slade set to executive produce the premiere episode which he will helm. Billy Campbell is repped by CAA and KLWGN Entertainment.

I quite like Billy Campbell, I'm on board with this.

 

[Sawyer]

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/07/19/comic-con-helix/

Comic-Con: Syfy's new series 'Helix' finalizes cast, teases Season 1 plan, discusses the sci-fi legacy of 'black goo'
by Lindsey Bahr on Jul 19, 2013 at 3:40PM

The Project: Helix (a new Syfy series from Battlestar Galactica’s Ronald Moore)

The Panel: Mark Stern (Syfy’s President of Original Content), Executive Producer Steven Madea (Lost), Cameron Porsandeh (writer), Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), moderated by EW’s own Geoff Boucher

Footage screened: The audience was treated to a very brief teaser for the series, which will begin production next week in Montreal. A sterile white laboratory is stained by some sort of black goo. As the camera pans up to show a “sterilization” room, you begin to hear an automated voice repeating “complete. complete. complete.” Only the sliding door to the sterilization room isn’t able to close, because a dead scientist’s leg is blocking it. Inside the room, we see another scientist in a hazmat suit dying on the floor, and coughing up the black goo that we saw at the beginning. In the air duct off to the side, there may be something lurking. And…cut to black!

Snap judgement: The Helix panel was scheduled right after Syfy’s Defiance, and though there were quite a few Defiance fans present, many folks attended just to ensure a good spot for the highly anticipated new show about a mysterious outbreak that threatens mankind. The panelists seem appropriately excited and confident about Season 1, especially because they know at the outset that they have 13 episodes to work with.

The Big Revelations: It had been previously reported that The Killing’s Billy Campbell would lead the cast as Dr. Alan Farragut, but the EP’s did announce some casting news that we were assured only came about “5 minutes earlier.” Hiroyuki Sanada (Revenge), Kyra Zagorsky (has appeared on Falling Skies and Supernatural), and Mark Ghanimé (Emily Owens M.D.) will fill out the cast in key roles. As for what the show is about, the panel continued to tease. ”There’s an outbreak of something in the first episode,” says Ron Moore. Focusing on a group of CDC scientists, they head to the Arctic to check out what could possibly be the source. Moore adds: “They realize the deeper that they go, the research they’re involved in has the potential to either save humanity or destroy it.” Porsandeh said, “it is a season long mystery.” Mark Stern said that it could be similar to American Horror Story in that each (hopeful) season will be a distinct chapter. “You know it’s got a real track and will go beyond the first few episodes,” said Stern. Also, Madea says that the black goo is decidedly not the black oil from The X-Files. Moore added with a laugh that it might be related to the black goo from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Most incisive audience questions: Think it’s hard to ask a question about a show that hasn’t even aired? Or begun shooting? Not when you have a panel of some of the most prolific minds behind sic-fi television. One potential fan asked earnestly whether or not the show will be all doom and gloom. Without hesitation, Mark Stern said, “of course! It’s a Ron Moore show.”

 

[Sawyer]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-syfys-helix-sets-585527

Comic-Con: Syfy's 'Helix' Sets Key Cast for Ron Moore Drama
11:45 AM PDT 7/19/2013 by Lesley Goldberg
"Lost's" Hiroyuki Sanada, Kyra Zagorsky and Mark Ghanime have joined the series, which will premiere in 2014.

Battlestar Galactica guru Ron Moore is back on the small screen with Helix, the 13-episode drama that Syfy picked up straight to series.

The drama is described as a thriller about a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to a high-tech research facility in the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak. There, they find themselves in a terrifying life-and-death struggle that holds the key to mankind's salvation or total annihilation.

Moore (Battlestar Galactica) will executive produce the drama alongside Lynda Obst (Contact),Steven Maeda (Lost, The X-Files) and Cameron Porsandeh, who penned the pilot of the Sony Pictures Television entry.

The Killing's Billy Campbell will star as CDC pathologist Dr. Alan Farragut, who first and foremost is a man of science, having dedicated his life to understanding and containing infectious diseases. Although brilliant, his bedside manner leaves something to be desired. For Alan, his work is his life, especially since the devastating end of his marriage. An affair between his wife (Dr. Kimberly Walker) and his brother (Dr. Paul Farragut) has left Alan in a pretty serious state of denial. He now finds himself forced to deal with emotions old and new when tasked to save his estranged brother who has become infected with a deadly disease.

Additionally, the role of Hiroshi Hitaki, the mastermind behind the arctic base and the top-secret research happening there will be played by Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine, Revenge, Lost). Walker, the former wife of Campbell's character who hasn't seen him in two years -- who will reunite with him after two years -- will be played by Kyra Zagorsky, whileand Balleseros, the U.S. military liaison to the CDC with a dangerous agenda of his own, will be played by Mark Ghanime.

Syfy is promoting the series, due in 2014, at Comic-Con with massive building wrap-arounds and banners inside the Convention Center.

During the Friday panel, Mark Stern, president of original programming at Syfy, said the network had been looking to do something with Moore again and the sterilized character story feels as if it's "chaptered" like FX's American Horror Story. He noted that the potential second season could take place in a different location. "The format of this show allows us to take narrative leaps," Moore says.

The show launches with an outbreak and a team from the CDC is sent to contain it. Moore says "they learn that the research that they're involved in has both the potential to save humanity and destroy humanity."

Maeda noted that bypassing the pilot stage helped producers plot out the character-driven show instead of packing everything into the pilot. "We want to get the hooks in early but we also want to set up character so you want to come back and spend time with these people. ... We're planning to keep the tension up."

Stern noted that the series is a big bet for Syfy and helps mark the network embracing its sci-fi roots with additional decisions on its pilots and miniseries coming soon. The series will be paired with Being Human next year.

Maeda said the series will not have a BSG look but the base will have a very sleek look. "Visually, we wanted to do something different. We discussed shooting in a BSG-kind of style," he said. "We are referencing a lot of different filmmakers -- the term Kubrickian has come up a few times."

Moore also said that he recently sat down with his son and watched the BSG miniseries for the first time in years. "He really liked it, I was very pleased. I was holding my breath for a little bit. ... I just sat there and it was really amazing."

Ultimately, Madea said there would be a payoff at the end of the 13-episode season that would answer several of the big questions presented during the characters' journey that will also set up season two.

Need this show NOW.

 

[nite-owl]

I really should get around to finishing Battlestar Galactica.

 

[Sawyer]

SDCC Reel:
[YT]VPeV9FfSaoU[/YT]

 

[Sawyer]

SDCC Interviews:
[YT]vqzMN3JyYeU[/YT]
[YT]v5H_F8_spjc[/YT]

 

[Sawyer]

Good news, bad news: Apparently David Slade isn't doing the premiere episode anymore, Jeffrey Reiner (Caprica, Friday Night Lights) is doing it instead.

 

[Donnie Darko]

Is there a premiere date for this?

 

[Sawyer]

First Look Photos

 

[Teelie]

So this is still going forward afterall. Sometimes they get these long silences where you have no idea if they quietly cancel something.

 

[Sawyer]

Nope. It was ordered to series, it was never a pilot.

 

[Teelie]

Even if it was ordered to series it doesn't mean there won't be some complication and it doesn't go forward. Although I didn't remember it getting the greenlight to go full either.

 

[chamber-music]

Sounds good.

 

[Specter313]

• Jeri Ryan has landed an arc on Syfy’s Helix, a new thriller from Battlestar Galactica helmer Ron Moore. The series follows a team of Centers for Disease Control scientists who travel to the Arctic to investigate a possible disease outbreak. Once there, they find themselves involved in a life-and-death struggle “that holds the key to mankind’s salvation or total annihilation.” Ryan joins as the COO of the research facility where the series takes place.

http://tvline.com/2013/10/08/ashley-madekwe-revenge-wgn-salem-drama-cast/

 

[Destructus86]

I love Jeri Ryan....and such a friendly person too!!

 

[Teelie]

Nice to see her in a starring role again. Or an arc at any rate.